CBI books Delhi minister in fresh case

The CBI has registered a fresh case against Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain in connection with "violation" of rules in hiring architects for the Public Works Department (PWD).

This has prompted Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to ask "what does Prime Minister Narendra Modi want".

Following the registration of the case against Jain — who is already facing a probe in a money laundering case — and four officials, the agency conducted searches at five locations, including the residences of Jain and others.

The registration of the case comes after a preliminary enquiry by the CBI into the hiring of 24 architects for a creative wing of the PWD.

The CBI claimed that the recruitment was done by an agency, which was more into manpower hiring for housekeeping, security and sanitation and that it had no experience in dealing with high-skilled professionals.

According to the CBI FIR, the initial plan was to hire 16 architects with a remuneration ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh, though no explanation was given as to why they chose these figures.

Later the number of architects to be hired was increased to 24 and again no specific reason was given for it.

Assigning the job of recruitment to an outside agency was also flagged as it cost more because of the service-charge payment to the outsourcing agency, the FIR said.

The CBI claimed that the PWD officials misused their official position and committed criminal misconduct by changing the terms and conditions to make a particular firm eligible to participate in the bidding.

While Kejriwal questioned the Modi-led government for the CBI raid, the AAP accused the central dispensation of keeping the party ministers and MLAs in controversy to ensure that the work done by the Delhi government is not highlighted.